Expectations for School Personnel

In determining what is conceived to be suitable preparation for assigning administrative and teaching positions in schools accredited by Christian Schools of Florida, specific expectations for personnel exist.

1. Personnel’s Walk with God

   A close walk with God is the prerequisite for representing Jesus Christ in the classroom and throughout the school, as demonstrated by active church membership and a lifestyle which is consistent with biblical principles and moral commandments.

2. Personnel’s Testimony and Sense of Calling

   Teachers, administrator, and staff personnel must be born again with clear testimonies for Christ and must evidence a sense of God’s calling to serve Him in the Christian school.

3. Personnel’s Affirmation of CSF MIssion and Understanding of Transformation Education

   The teachers and staff must affirm the mission statement of Christian Schools of Florida and its understanding of transformational education.

4. Personnel’s Relationship with School Community

   The relationships of all personnel with students, parents, colleagues, the administration, and the board must be open and positive, fostering cooperative relationships within the school.

Administrative Staff Credentials

The school ensures that its administrative personnel have appropriate credentials.

1. Head of School Credentials

   The administrative head of school must hold a graduate degree and meet one of the following requirements:

   1. Head of School Certification or Certifiability

      The head of school, in addition to holding a graduate degree, must be certified in educational leadership, supervision, and/or administration, or have earned at least 18 semester hours of credit in educational leadership, supervision, and/or administration either as part of or in addition to that degree.

   2. Head of School Skills, Training, Executive Experience

      The head of school, if not certified in educational leadership, supervision, and/or administration, or has not earned at least 18 semester hours of credit in educational leadership, supervision, and/or administration, in addition to holding a graduate degree, must have specific skills, training, or executive experience; in this instance, the school shall have a qualified instructional administrator or principal with authority to oversee the instructional program and meeting the qualifications of a principal/instructional leader. (ES 6.2.2.2)

   3. Head of School Enrolled in Program

      Administrative heads of schools that do not hold the required graduate degree, or have not earned the specified credits in educational leadership, supervision, and/or administration, and who serve as the instructional leader of the school, must be actively enrolled in a program that leads to meeting the requirement within three years.

2. Principal and Instructional Administrator Credentials

   Principals and instructional leaders must meet one of the following requirements:

   1. Principals and Instructional Administrators with Certification or Certifiability

      Principals or instructional administrators, in addition to holding a graduate degree in business, education, or divinity, must be certified or certifiable in administration, supervision, or educational leadership; or

   2. Principals and Instructional Administrators Engage in Program

      Principals and instructional administrators must be actively engaged in a graduate program leading to certification or be certifiable in administration, supervision, or educational leadership within four years of accreditation.

3. EC Director Credentials CSF Accredited

   Early childhood directors of CSF accredited programs must meet the following requirements: (See Strand 7 Early Childhood for further specifics)

   1. Directors Credential Option

      The EC Director must possess a state mandated Director’s Credential, OR

   2. EC Director BA Option

      Have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher which includes:
      1) six (6) credit hours in early childhood education/child development, OR
      2) passing the FTCE Subject Area Examination (SAE) for Preschool Education Birth-Age 4 or Pre-Kindergarten/Primary PK-3.

   3. EC Director 10 Clock Hour Requirement

      The EC Director must complete ten clock-hours of in-service training annually.

4. EC Director Credentials Non-Accredited

   Early childhood directors of non-accredited programs must meet the following requirements:(See Strand 7 Early Childhood for further specifics)

   1. CSF Accredited Program Option

      EC Director must meet the requirements of CSF accredited program directors, OR

   2. HS Diploma Option

      Have a high school diploma, and:

      • Have completed the DCF Introductory Child Care Training, and
      • Complete the DCF “Special Needs Appropriate Practices” course, and
      • Be working towards obtaining an active Staff Credential Verification, and
      • Complete the “Overview of Child Care Management” course within the first year of employment, and
      • Meet the requirements of CSF accredited program directors within two (2) years as a CSF Associate Member school.

   3. EC Director 10 Clock Hour Requirement

      The EC Director must complete ten clock-hours of in-service training annually.

Instructional Staff Credentials

The school ensures that the Grades K-12 instructional staff have appropriate credentials.

1. Grade K–12 Teachers with Degree in Field of Teaching

   Teachers in grades K-12 must hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, and be teaching the major part of the day in the fields for which they are academically prepared, OR

2. Grade K–12 Teachers with Certificate

   Teachers in grades K-12 must be state or nationally certified in the field of their major assignment, OR

3. Grade K–12 Teachers with BA Degree and Exceptional Experience

   Teachers in grades K-12 must hold a Bachelor’s Degree and have exceptional experience or expertise in their teaching assignment.

4. Grade K-12 Non-Degreed Teachers

   If non-degreed, teachers in grades K-12 who possess exceptional experience or expertise may be assigned to disciplines other than English, mathematics, social studies, and science. A school may have up to 20% of FTE teachers designated as this exceptional category in academic classes.

5. Classical Christian School Teachers

   In Classical Christian schools, teachers of the omnibus component must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the core courses of the component or have a Bachelor’s Degree with exceptional experience or expertise in their teaching assignment.

6. Rationale to Validate Instructional Exception

   The school head shall provide written rationale of justification to the CSF accreditation chair to validate exceptions exercised for teachers designated as exceptional. (See non-degreed and classical school exceptions)

7. Grade K–12 Teachers without Supervised Internship

   Teachers who have not completed a supervised internship must be enrolled in a professional training program designed by the school containing the equivalency of 9 credits in professional education and must complete the program within three years.

EC Ensures Appropriate Staff

The Early Childhood Program ensures that the instructional staff have appropriate credentials. (See Strand 7 Early Childhood for further specifics)

1. Early Childhood Teachers 2-4 Year-Olds

   Early Childhood teachers of two through four-year-old children in both CSF-accredited and non-accredited schools must meet the following requirements:

   1. DCF Introductory Training

      Must have completed the DCF Introductory Child Care Training, and

   2. Florida Staff Credential Opton

      Have a Florida Child Care Staff Credential, OR

   3. Florida Child Care Professional Certificate Option

      Have a Florida Child Care Professional Certificate (FCCPC), OR

   4. National Child Care Development Associate (CDA)

      Have a National Child Care Development Associate (CDA), OR

   5. EC BA Staff Option

      Have earned a Bachelor’s Degree or higher which includes:
      

      • six (6) credit hours in early childhood education/child development, or
      • passing the FTCE Subject Area Examination (SAE) for Preschool Education Birth-Age 4 or Pre-Kindergarten/Primary PK-3 or for any age, birth through 6th grade
      
      

   6. EC Assistant Teachers

      Assistant teachers of two- to four-year-old children must complete the DCF Introductory Child Care Training.

   7. EC Teachers 10 Clock Hour Training

      Early childhood teachers and assistant teachers must complete ten clock-hours of in-service training annually.